Caracas, 09 Dic. AVN.- The Committee of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) welcomes the efforts of the Venezuelan State to reinforce national mechanisms to improve the participation of female citizens and vindication of their rights.

CEDAW was pleased with the approval, in 1999, of a new Constitution which stipulates equality between man and woman in all spheres of life, including provisions to protect women's human rights and preventing a sexist language.

Up to next Saturday Dec. 10th, in Venezuela's Ministry of Women and Gender Equality is holding a workshop on the Defense of Human Rights envisaged in the CEDAW. It discusses issues such as Equality and discrimination; Equality and Equity; Multiple Discrimination (indigenous, Afro Descendant, farmers); Basic Rights; Policies, programs and mechanisms of implementation.

Fighting inequalities

The approach given by the National Government to the issue of gender has enabled to fight inequalities and the international norm recognizes explicitly women's rights as a condition to overcome economic, social and cultural inequalities.

In America, the first Convention on Women's Rights took place in New York, United States, and the main guarantee claimed was the right to vote.

In 1928 was constituted the Inter-American Commission of Women, in Havana, Cuba. It began a process of a legal institutional framework for the rights of female citizens in the Continent and the 9 Pan American Conference of 1948 was adopted the Convention on the Recognition of Political and Civil Rights to Women.